Padel looks a bit like tennis squeezed into a glass box, and understanding the measurements helps you read angles, position yourself and use the walls with confidence. Here is a plain guide to how a standard padel court is built, based on the official dimensions set by the International Padel Federation (FIP).
The playing area: 20 by 10 metres
A padel court is a rectangle 20 metres long and 10 metres wide. Those numbers are fixed, and they are what give doubles padel its cosy, fast character. Two pairs share a space that feels intimate compared with a tennis court, so reactions and net play matter far more than raw running speed.
The court is divided across the middle by the net, giving each pair a 10 by 10 metre half to defend. A centre service line runs down each half, splitting it into service boxes.
The net
The net sits 0.88 metres high at the centre. It rises slightly towards the posts at each side, reaching about 0.92 metres. That gentle dip in the middle is deliberate, and it is why so many players aim their attacking shots down the centre where the net is lowest.
The net spans the full 10 metre width of the court, meeting the side walls at each end.
The service boxes and lines
Serving in padel is underarm, and the service area is marked out clearly. The service line runs across each half, three metres in from the back glass. The distance between the net and the service line is therefore seven metres.
A centre service line divides the space between the net and each service line into two boxes, left and right. When you serve, the ball must bounce inside the diagonally opposite service box before your opponent plays it. There is no tramline or doubles alley as there is in tennis, because the whole width is in play. If you want the serving rules in full, see our complete rules guide.
The walls: glass and mesh
The walls are what make padel special, and their heights are worth knowing because the ball stays live off them. A typical court uses a combination of glass and metal mesh.
At the two ends, behind each pair, the back wall is usually three metres of glass topped by metal mesh up to a total height of four metres. That solid glass panel is the surface you will use most, letting the ball rebound predictably so you can play it after it has passed you.
The side walls step down as they run towards the net. The rear section, nearest the back glass, is built up with three metres of glass plus mesh to four metres, matching the back. Further along towards the net the wall lowers in steps, typically down to around two or three metres, so the court opens up at the front. This stepped design is why balls behave so differently depending on where they strike. Learning those bounces is a skill in itself, covered in our reading the glass guide.
Access gaps and doors
Players enter through openings in the side walls near the middle of the court, level with the net. Courts come in two styles. Some have open access gaps with no glass, and a ball that leaves through the gap can, under the rules, sometimes be played back in. Others use hinged doors. The layout affects a handful of unusual rallies, so it is worth a glance before you start a match at an unfamiliar venue. Our venues page lists Manchester courts if you are planning where to play.
How it compares to a tennis court
A singles tennis court is 23.77 metres long and 8.23 metres wide, widening to 10.97 metres for doubles. So a padel court is shorter than a tennis court but slightly wider than a singles one, and it is enclosed. The padel net is also a touch lower at the centre than a tennis net, which sits at 0.914 metres in the middle.
The biggest difference is not a single measurement but the walls. Tennis ends when the ball passes you. Padel keeps going, because the glass brings it back. For a fuller comparison, read padel versus tennis.
Why the dimensions matter to your game
Knowing the court is 20 by 10 metres, with seven metres from net to service line and glass rising to four metres at the back, changes how you play. You will position closer to the net than tennis instinct suggests, aim serves and volleys towards the lower centre of the net, and trust the back glass to give you a second chance on deep balls. Pair this knowledge with our tools and cheat sheet and the court starts to feel a lot smaller.
FAQ
How big is a padel court?
A standard padel court is 20 metres long and 10 metres wide, enclosed by glass and mesh walls. Those measurements are set by the International Padel Federation and are the same for every regulation court.
What is the net height in padel?
The net is 0.88 metres high at the centre and rises to about 0.92 metres at the posts. The lower centre is why many attacking shots are aimed down the middle.
How high are the glass walls?
The back walls are typically three metres of glass with mesh up to four metres in total. The side walls match this at the rear and step down towards the net.
Is a padel court bigger than a tennis court?
No. A padel court is shorter than a tennis court and slightly wider than a singles tennis court, and it is fully enclosed by walls, which a tennis court is not.